The Three Israeli Media Phenomena of the Year

Devastation and war shaped the behavior of Israeli media in 2024

1. The Failure of the Liberal Media in Israel
Despite experiencing the most severe diplomatic, managerial, and military failure in the history of the country, Israeli media intensified its frantic thrust toward the delusional and cozy middle ground where there are always two extremes or more like “very fine people on both sides.” The prolonged state of war forced news outlets into extensive coverage, both in the printed press and in endless TV panels with far too many male military correspondents. And in this obsessive coverage, the media clung almost religiously to the dangerous principle of “a balanced view” AKA spinelessness. But what do you know: it’s not ‘balanced’ to provide a platform for outright lies that can be debunked in minutes with basic journalistic integrity and tools (such as Google); it’s not ‘balanced’ to give voice to outrageous conspiracy theories born from the same decaying petri dish in which neo-Nazis and other sociopaths thrived; it’s not ‘balanced’ that individuals that have direct ties to the Prime Minister’s PR machine are presented as objective political commentators. Perhaps now that Channel 13 struggles to find new ownership, there can be slight hope for a change (At the moment, negotiations seem strained. We’re crossing fingers for them).

2. The disillusioned “leftists”
The most desirable career change in Israel right now isn’t fintech, biotech, or any other2.2 glamorous form of tech. The new trend is becoming the ex-lefty who exclaims “I used to believe that peace was possible, but then I saw the light.” And it doesn’t even matter if you ever actually held left-wing views — glasses and a fair-skinned gene pool will suffice. These so-called converts are being miraculously absorbed into pseudo-journalistic, pro-government platforms that keep popping up like fungi. How to spot a ‘convert’ just moments before their great epiphany? It often begins with phrases like “truth must be told…” (…that our beloved prime minister is God-like and we are eternally grateful). You can be sure that there is little truth-telling here — just private interests of career advancements.

3. Suing the defamors.
This wouldn’t be the first time we’ve talked about the era of post-truth, but since it seems as though some people have lost their patience, perhaps a new sub-era is on the horizon. If historical and factual truth is dead, at least a legal truth should prevail, eh? Public figures that have been relentlessly targeted by armies of defamors and liars, have seemingly abandoned their passive aggressive approach and started suing — and for a lot of money. To mention only a few; Hadas Klein, Ehud Barak, Naftali Bennett, and there are others. These are not merely SLAPP suits as critics sometimes claim, because intentionally spreading falsehoods cannot and should be included in free speech. The truth must be visible and known — if not through the shining grace of God, then at least by inflicting financial pain.